Angela Bassett is making it known that age is just a number, and she doesn’t allow her abilities to be curtailed by how old she is.
Per PEOPLE, Bassett, 67, touched on her growth after she emerged number one on AARP’s Movies for Grownups’ list of the 25 Most Fabulous Women Over 50.
“I don’t allow age to impose some limit on me. Half the time I forget how old I am,” the Black Panther star said in an interview with AARP. “Or if it’s a birthday, it’s wonderful, it’s a birthday season — but how old? I don’t know. Plenty enough of people will remind you.”
She continued: “Just keep putting one foot in front of the other, keep loving life, embracing it. And just know that the best is yet to come. You can do anything you put your mind to.”
The mother of two also stated that she remains “vibrant” because of the passion she has for her career. “They say if you love what you do, you never work a day. I’m absolutely still loving what I do. It’s keeping me vibrant and out there,” Bassett added.
“But also I think a great part of it is your attitude. Just your attitude, how you look at life. And I have a very positive one.”
In an August interview with Woman’s World, Bassett touched on aging and the lessons she has learned from that.
“One of the beautiful byproducts of aging is the wisdom that comes along with it and the experiences that you’ve had that have made you stronger but not done you in,” Bassett said. “All the mistakes you’ve made are things you’ve learned and grown from, and you’re better able to advocate for yourself and others.”
Bassett said aging had made her understand that “everything isn’t so important.” “There are some things that you can allow to pass you by, and the world will still go on. You learn to exercise your ‘no’ option and prioritize your health and mental well-being,” she continued.
“‘No’ is a complete sentence. You can have trust and belief and then go on to the next thing. By doing that, you’ve given the person asking you the freedom to go on and find the answer that they need, and you’ve also freed yourself up to do things that you enjoy. You’re not being selfish. You’re being real.”
Besides Bassett, the other women who made AARP’s list included Naomi Watts, June Squibb, Jamie Lee Curtis and Andie MacDowell, PEOPLE reported.
“We created this list to spotlight women who are not just excelling in Hollywood, they are redefining it,” Alison Maxwell, senior executive editor of AARP.org, said in a press release. “These powerhouse talents continue to take creative risks, deliver unforgettable performances and are showing the world that growing older is not something to hide, it’s something to embrace.”
“Their influence, resilience and artistry prove that success and cultural impact don’t have an expiration date,” Maxwell added. “They are proving that age is not a limitation, it’s a power.”
